Gwendolyn M. Branch, 69
Former Rotarian Gwendolyn M. Branch of Riverhead died June 1, 2016 at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital. She was 69 years old.
Former Rotarian Gwendolyn M. Branch of Riverhead died June 1, 2016 at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital. She was 69 years old.
Born on February 17, 1947 in Glenville Georgia, she was the daughter of Bernice (Holmes) and Roy Mack Sr.
She grew up in Riverhead and attended Riverhead public schools. She earned an master’s degree in social welfare from Stony Brook University in 1990 and worked as a professor and counselor at Suffolk County Community College. Prior to joining the college faculty in 2003, she was the director of Alternatives Counseling Center in Riverhead, where she worked for 28 years.
Gwen was extremely dedicated to and very involved in the Riverhead community, serving on the boards of a variety local organizations. She was a longtime member and past president of the board of the East End Arts Council, a member of the board of the Family Community Life Center, a member of Riverhead Rotary and was a founding member of the Riverhead Community Awareness Program and the Riverhead Town Anti-Bias Task Force.
Gwen was a devoted member of First Baptist Church of Riverhead, where she served on many committees and helped everyone who needed assistance with any task.
“She will be sorely missed by family and friends — by the whole community,” said longtime friend James “Butch” Langhorn, who grew up with Gwen.
“She was a woman of all people,” Langhorn said. “She helped everyone with everything. Gwen was everywhere. Her community was her life.”
She is survived by her mother, Bernice Mack, her husband James Otis Branch, her sons, Dwayne and Michael, her brothers, Roy Mack Jr., Gregory Mack, her sisters Charlene Crump, Cheryl Atkins and Cynde Mack, and by one grandchild.
Visitation will take place on Sunday, June 5, from 3-5 to 7-9 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Riverhead. A funeral service will be held at the church on Monday, June 6 at 11 a.m., the Rev. Charles Coverdale and the Rev. Cynthia Liggon officiating. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.
Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead.
Obituary courtesy of Riverhead Local.